Month: September 2007

Only in Russia: Learn How To Be A Moscovite!


This is what you will see driving around Moscow, beautiful new buildings and high speed free ways!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about a man from Ukraine that has lived in Moscow since the 1980’s. His name is Daonag!

He gives lessons to people who are new to Moscow about being a Moscovite!

Daonag Says:”Moscow does not know how to lament anything,” He also says:”There is no pity in Moscow. Moscow will respect you if you present yourself firmly, if you have your own strength and personality. But if you do nothing but cry, Moscow will reject you.”(Moscow times)

I understand this need. The open arms of Moscow are not apparent when you first arrive. This just helps compound the fears that you have already conjured from reading the American view point of Russia.

I had read an article before I left America. From the State Department of the United States of America. This article told me clearly that Russia was a unsettled country and that the Embassies in Russia can offer very little assistance if you get in trouble. The article went on to say that police in Russia are notorious for causing Americans many problems, such as taking you down to local police stations and interrogating you. (Now that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.)

I found all this was very untrue. I have found that the Russian is a warm, inviting, and caring person. I have also found out that the police are shocked most of the time when they realize that they have just stopped a American. They have never bothered me while walking, just when driving our car.

I found that there was a lot of untruths on the Internet about Russia and her people. That is one of the reasons that I started this web site, To let People in the World know that Russia has a heart & soul.

I find that there is a real need for someone to help new comers adjust to Moscow or Russia for that matter. (I had my Sweetie)

Not because Russia will be devastating to your existence! But because you have & need to learn a new set of manners plus different lifestyle.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

9-11 in America!



I still remember what I was doing when America was attacked by terrorists. (Do you remember?)

I was feeling sorry for myself because my now ex-wife had left me the night before, for another man.

When the attack happened, I did not feel sorry for myself any more.

My problems were minor compared to what happened at the World Trade Center.

I remember everyone flew a American Flag. Everyone had flags everywhere.

Lets hope that no one in the World suffers that kind of loss again.

I gave a moment of silence today, I remembered 9-11. (Did You?)

If America and Russia would work together, Terrorism would be gone.

That is my 2 Rubles worth.

Kyle Keeton

comments always welcome.

Russia: Never Lost Her Power!


Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and I was thinking about how different the stories that the media presents, as you transverse the World.

I read and listen to so called experts on Russia and Capitalism! I read about how Russia lost all her Super Power Status and became so much less than the USA. I read about how Putin has destroyed Capitalism and wants Imperialism in its place. I have read that there is a New Cold War. I have read that Russia violates Human rights…………………..etc etc etc.

Wanna know What?

It is the biggest pile of BULL that has come along for a long time. Russia is no different than any country in the World including the US of A.

~~ I spent most of my life in the Land of Free! ~~ I have a little knowledge of America.

1. Russia violates Human Rights: What I see living here, yes Russia does violate Human Rights but the USA is no better and very open about it. (Link to Bad case of Rights Violation in USA). There are thousands of cases like this and most are swept under the table.

2. Putin has destroyed Capitalism and the vote for Russian President is preset. (this is surprising to a capitalist country???) This is a good one for the USA to talk about, The USA needs to clean their cupboards before they accuse. After the last few fiscals that we call, The Presidential Elections, in America. I have no desire to vote this time. I feel that the president is already picked out for the American people and signed sealed and delivered before election! (link to article) Do you think the term “King George” (George Bush) is a fallacy?

3. The New Cold War! Who said the Old Cold War ended! Not Russia, I do not ever remember the Russian people saying to the world, “zippy yea, the Cold War is over” If I remember, America was saying:”zippy yea, the Cold War is over.” Just maybe Russia has been sitting back trying to get the country under control from the upheaval during the the fall of the Soviet Union. We forget that Russia was the Soviet Union. They have kept the same mind set, just put prettier bows and ribbons on the package.

4. Russia not a Super Power! They have the most violent weapons on Earth. The less sophisticated but immensely more powerful nuclear missiles and bombs, make the USA think twice before they would push Russia too far. Very good Link to a Russian Nuclear Bomb. Russia may have a messed up Military at this moment, but they can still destroy the world 100 times over. In my book that makes them a Super Power….

The bottom line is that America has a media system that plays games with everyone in the World. It has got to be one of the most controlled and bias reporting systems that any country has. Russia is far from perfect, but the USA is just as far from perfect!

I truly see only small differences between the countries. If Russia is doing it, the USA is doing it also, or vice a versa.

The one big difference that I see is: Putin is doing a much better job at running Russia, than Bush has running the USA!

Kyle

comments always welcome!

Sunday: Russian thoughts!



Hello,

I was drinking my cup of (real) coffee today. (Yummy) I was thinking about what I had talked to my wife about last night.

Every Sunday, have her post an article. I will not post any articles and Svet gets to post what ever she feels like. I think that this is a good idea and she wants to do it.

BUT, she feels like people would not want to read what she has to write. I tell her that she is wrong.

I know that you all are making her happy. She has comments on her article!!!!

So with your encouragement she will do it.

What do you think!

We can call it, Svet Sunday!

Kyle

PS: You can see by the sparkle in her eyes and the joy in her face why I love her so much. She is the holder of my Heart and has the key to my soul!

comments always welcome.

Russia: More Military and Church!



Hello,

I was just about done with my second cup of coffee and my Wife finds these pictures of Tanks and Churches. So I thought they were really good and wished that I had them yesterday with my Article on Russia: Church & Nuclear Weapons!

So I am going to let you see some Church Tanks! They are even nice and pretty white. Now you could lose these tanks in the snow. They are WWII Tanks that are monuments!

Now if I only had one of these to drive around Moscow, I would not have to worry about Crazy Russian Drivers.

Thanks Sweetie for the pictures.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Church and Nuclear Weapons?



Hello,

I found several articles today on the subject of Russian Churches and blessing the Nuclear Weapons. I think that this has been taken out of context for sensationalism. (Many Churches have long believed that the world will end with the “Apocalypse”.) Now according to accounts, the Russian Orthodox Church Blessed Nuclear bombs.
Lets look at some facts:

“This week, the Russian Orthodox Church gave its blessing to the men and women who control the Nuclear Weapons. Priests chanted prayers in honor of the 12th Main Directorate, which is responsible for the storage and maintenance of the country’s nuclear arsenal. 200 men and women dressed in uniforms with a atom logo on their sleeves, occasionally crossed themselves as Bishop Amvrosy of Bronnitsy, led the Blessing service. The bishop concluded by reading a congratulatory message from Patriarch Alexy II. “I congratulate you on this memorable anniversary and I raise prayers to God and to the venerable Serafim of Sarov that the nuclear weapons created by you and entrusted to you will always be in God’s hands, and will only be weapons of deterrence and retaliation.””

Sounds like they blessed the people in charge of the Nuclear weapons. (That makes sense to me)

Now the church views nuclear weapons as something of a deterrent factor for the Russian state and the rest of the World. The history of the past 15 years shows that Russia’s nuclear capability helped it remain an independent state and helped control an ambitious USA. The church views the weapons themselves as evil but a necessary evil! (The history of the Cold War era shows that the two Super Powers were stalemated.)

This same stance was in America also, The Catholic Church has made it well known that weapons are evil but if used correctly they are a deterrent to war.

Nuclear Weapons have been considered the end of man kind, (after the initial bombing of Japan.) The results of the bombings, let the world know that subsequent usage of such weapons would result in the destruction of Humanity as we know it.

So as I see it, This is a normal part of typical Church and Military relationships. Granted this relationship was broken and or hidden for many years in Russia. Now though, the ties with Church and State are growing stronger in Russia and this is a sign that the bond is stronger than in the past.

I think that is a good thing.

Kyle Keeton

comments always welcome.

Russia: Svet & Her Camera!



Hello,

I was thinking again but no coffee this time. I was drinking Diet Pepsi, Yummy!

I told the world that I bought my wife a new camera and she loves it. I also told the world that no one is safe now, that she has a camera. (sorta like a kid in a candy store)

Well now Svet has brought pictures of the new architect that is being built in Moscow. Russia is replacing older flats that were built in an era that needed quick housing. (Other words the buildings are falling down around the people living in them.)

I think, she took really good pictures and I am going to post them, this gives you an idea of what Moscow looks like.

I am also going to post pictures of a car wreck that Svet took. (I told you know one is safe!)

It is a wreck between a car and a bus.


Now I am showing these to you because in Russia no matter how small the accident you do not move your vehicles. You keep them where they are at until the Road Police show up. Bad thing is it could be 2-3 hours or more before the Road Police show up. So no matter how bad you block traffic you do not pull out of the way. (as you can see this was not a bad accident)

So now you know a little more about life in Russia.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian Weekend!




Hello,

The Day of Moscow, Did not end up being a wild weekend for us. (we are not very wild anyway)

The weekend was spent dealing with a situation with a friend who is hospitalized. So we did not go looking for the festivals.

We spent Sunday looking for the hospital that the friend was in. We did find the Hospital and was not able to see her. The doctor was available and talked with Svet about the prognosis.

We left and since the roads to the center of Moscow were blocked we gave up trying to find the festivities downtown! So we decided to go home.

Then we came upon something that made the whole weekend better. That’s my next article, as I drink my second cup of coffee! 🙂

Kyle

PS: Moscow is 860 years old and the whole city was covered in flags and special signs like the ones I showed you in the pictures.